How did your new series come about? It emerged from the growing popularity of wildlife swimming, psychotherapy and deep breathing, especially during Covid. I developed the form with [UK production company] Hungry Bear Media and was thrilled when the BBC boarded. Suddenly there is so much interest because people are looking for ways to gain more control over their minds and bodies. How do you feel about becoming a TV star at 62? I do not care to become a star, but the BBC that supports it thanks me to the bottom of my heart. It’s the best showcase if you’re a man on a mission like me. If I have to become a star, a planet or a rock, I will. I just want to make the world a better place. Stress comes from inflammation caused by the stress of our society What’s the meaning of the title, Freeze the Fear? Fear is deep inside us, we just can not keep it. But you go into the icy cold and suddenly you are in the same area where the fear comes from. Usually we do not have access to it because we live in our comfort zone, but going into the cold, you touch this prehistoric deep brainstem. And then you can catch your fear, so freeze the fear. The series follows eight celebrities, including Gabby Logan and Professor Green, who face extreme challenges. Like? They start by diving in icy water in the Italian Alps and then become bolder as the series progresses. Some challenges are the combination of sub-zero temperatures and engine achievements. Trying to maintain control over a beam over an abyss is quite difficult. Add icy cold conditions to vertigo and it is almost too much for your brain. This is how they completely deal with their fears. Deep emotions and deep traumas come to the surface. Some of them suffer from insomnia or anxiety. Does the show help them? For sure. It is very effective. Stress comes from inflammation caused by the stress of our society. It’s a message that your body’s chemistry and functionality are at stake. The series shows how to use the healing power of the cold to conquer your own biochemistry. I make it practical so that people watching at home can also remove tools to use in their daily lives. As I always say: a cold shower a day keeps the doctor away. Are there any scary moments? A lot. Swimming under the ice, for example, is scary because it’s a different world. The cold controls your body, then you have to overcome your claustrophobia. Dude, this’s more than scary. It is life and death. Net danger. But we also have a lot of fun. It is a very exciting experience. When people have a common enemy, which is the cold, it binds them. There is a racial aspect to this. I overcame the fear of death. Now I’m not afraid to die. I’m afraid not to live You are known as Iceman and the Cold King. Do these nicknames bother you? It’s okay, but I’m a lively, wholehearted person who does not care about the cold at all. Do not tell anyone but I hate the cold! And is there a feature film called The Iceman in the works? Yes, a Hollywood movie starring Joseph Fiennes. Kevin Macdonald is directing and Jeff Pope has already completed the script. Hoff swims with ice at his training center in the Netherlands. Photo: Frans Lemmens / Alamy You first discovered the power of the cold when you were a teenager, right? Yes, at the age of 17. I was quite a thinker, a philosopher, but one day I felt attracted to the icy water. I jumped on a canal in Amsterdam and thought, “This is it!” This deep connection I felt that day was the starting point. Every day, for 45 years since then, I fall into the cold. And here I am. I am 62, I am very strong and I love life. You have broken 26 world records. What is your most proud achievement? There was a moment, swimming under the ice, when I found myself. I lost my way because my corneas froze under the water. I was not wearing glasses, only shorts, holding my breath. I was under a layer of ice thick in Finland, lost and blind. But I never felt like I was drowning. No panic or pain. I felt calm and in control. This experience has brought me so much. In the end, a safety diver brought me back by pulling me from my ankles to the exit hole I had been through for a long time. I took a huge breath of air when I got up. At that moment, I overcame the fear of death. Now I’m not afraid to die. I’m afraid not to live. What do you think about the recent increase in wildlife swimming? There are now more than 4 million people in Britain who go to natural bodies of water. He grew up explosively during Covid because it was such a confusing, confusing time. It had a depressing effect on people. But in cold water, you lose yourself. It is great for mood, it is stress relief, it is a cardiovascular workout, it is great for blood flow and deep breathing. Cold water does it all. You spend a lot of time in cold weather wearing only underpants. Is “shrinkage” a problem?[Laughs] When people ask “How cold is the weather?”, I always say: [holds his fingers apart] “This cold!” It’s my thermometer. I can show you how cold it is but you may not see it. And you have six children… I’m 62 and I’m still thinking about one more. I do not think so, I am already working on it. My youngest is four and the oldest is 39, so there is a 35 year difference. Also, I just became a grandfather for the first time, something I like. You have a list of the following, including Tom Cruise, David Beckham and Oprah. Have you become friends? Sure, but they’re just normal people. That’s the way I talk to them. They are familiar with my methods, they thank me and if I am in the neighborhood, I am very welcome in their homes. They like to know me because I’m the man who was there and did it. You turn 63 this month. How will you celebrate it? Spending 63 minutes in ice water. I will put it on Instagram to show that the older you get, the stronger you become. Look this [does the splits]. I have not warmed up but I just did the partitions. I’ll be 63 soon and I’m as flexible as a ballerina.
